Stop Your Hair Loss with This Latest Hair Care Advice from Dr. Oz

Achieving a good hair day can cost you more than what’s in your wallet - it may cost you your hair as well your health, reveals a new episode of The Dr. Oz Show as he tells viewers that their hair mistakes may cause hair loss.

With Dr. Oz is special guest Nikki (Curly Nikki) Walton a psychotherapist and natural hair care expert and author of the book Better than Good Hair: The Curly Girl Guide To Healthy, Gorgeous Natural Hair! who tells Dr. Oz that for many women they have to have the perfect hair to feel good about themselves, which comes at a cost not only of their natural hair but their health as well.

“Unfortunately, in our society appearance is everything. And your hair frames your face and people judge you. Women in the audience will agree with me that a good hair day is everything—you’re on top of the world,” says Nikki Walton.

Hair-be-Gone Weave Damage

As an example of how many women put their hair and health at risk in the search for those good hair days, Dr. Oz brought on stage one guest who showed viewers her collection of nearly one dozen different styles of weaves. These weaves are ones that she uses 24/7 with some changed on a daily basis. The reason for the weaves is that she never goes out in public in her natural hair and wants a style that reflects her needs or mood for the day whether it is a professional appearing cut, a diva look, or one for partying.

However, what she has discovered is that her weaves are causing her to go bald in many regions of her scalp. The weaves have caused breakage of her natural hair over her forehead, and because some weaves were sewed in so tightly to the side of her head she had to shave off what little natural hair she had left on the sides.

Dr. Oz explains that what is happening to her is the fact that hair can only take so much stress before giving in and breaking from all the forces of weaves pulling down on the hair by the roots as well as the constant bending and twisting manipulation that goes on when a weave is attached and removed.

Feel-the-(skin) Burn Relaxers Damage

Another example of hair damage from trying to have a good hair day is that of the use of relaxers to straighten curly hair. One guest provided images of herself from childhood to adulthood to show others that she was born with naturally curly hair, but the curliness of the hair made it made difficult to comb that as a result led her mother to start her on hair straighteners at an early age.

She then admitted that the problem with using relaxers is that they sometimes result in chemical burns to the scalp that can not only cause pus-filled sores and redness, but leave scarring on the skin as well.

"Straight hair in our society is the standard of beauty. Women who do not have naturally straight hair go to great lengths and they risk bodily harm and damage,” says Nikki Walton.

Dr. Oz explains that not only are the chemicals used in relaxers damaging to the skin, but also force the breaking of internal bonds within the hair to straighten out the curls while at the same time also damages the outer cuticle layers of each hair that then results in fraying and a fuzzy appearance.

Nikki Walton told the guest and viewers that the solution to this problem is to make the decision to allow your hair go natural and accept it for what it is and who you are. She points out that the guest’s testimony that the use of hair relaxers started with her mother shows how that society shapes our hair and our image of ourselves and that this cycle needs to be stopped.

Curling Iron Catastrophe Damage

A third example of hair damage that earned millions of YouTube views was that of a young woman who taped a demonstration of her using a curling iron to curl her hair. She explained the process with the typical "wrap the strands around the iron, close the clamp and hold for 20 seconds." However, once she released the curling iron, her hair came off with it.

Nikki Walton explained that this does happen with some people and could be due to the chemicals used in her hair products reacted with the heat and caused the hair to break or burn off, or that the curling iron was too hot for her type of hair. One safe solution for achieving curly hair she advises viewers is to try a product called “curl formers” that consists of a looped stick that is used to apply a twisted flexible foam-like hair former that holds and shapes hair gently into curls.

Solutions for a Healthier Hair and a Healthier Life

For the past few years Nikki Walton has earned the title of “The Hair Whisperer” as she has promoted the message that natural hair is beautiful hair and has helped women transition from their chemically treated straight hair and turned them into curl converts as they forsake their dependence on weaves, reliance on relaxers and abuse with curling irons.

To help women transition from being artificially straight to naturally curly, she offers these following 10 tips to make the process less drastic while retaining your inner and outer beauty:

Hair Transition Tip #1: Avoid Heat

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Using a curling iron or blow dryer to camouflage the transitioning can result in an uneven curl pattern, loss of curl and breakage that will only add to your transition difficulties.

Hair Transition Tip #2: Try Low Manipulation Styles

Twist and braid-outs, pin curls, roller sets, buns and braids should be your style staples to blend differing hair textures from the treatments that you are transitioning out of. Remember to moisturize and handle your hair as gently and as infrequently as possible during the transition.

Hair Transition Tip #3: Gently Detangle

Use your fingers instead of combs and brushes when detangling and styling.

Avoid the temptation to have a Big Chop to get it over with and wait for your new hair to grow out as this could lead to a return to the relaxer and cause confidence issues related to your hair.

Hair Transition Tip #6: Be Flexible

Transitioning and natural hair is anything but predictable. Accept it for what it is that day as tomorrow will better and try using bobby pins, a bun, a swoop, a pomp or whatever it takes to temporarily make a bad hair day feel better.

Hair Transition Tip #7: Be Educated

Educate yourself on hair care methods and styling options—it’s the lack of skill and knowledge that send many running back to that flat iron or relaxer.

Hair Transition Tip #8: Be Vocal

You are changing a part of your self-image so some discomfort is expected—take the time to talk with friends about it, create your own blog or reach out to others who want to transition too.

Hair Transition Tip #9: Be Health Focused

Focus your energy from the aesthetic and styling techniques to overall hair health. Not only will it make your body healthier, but it will also make your hair healthier and have the ability to adopt some new styles.

Hair Transition Tip #10: Be Mindful

Remember your reasons for going natural and what it means to your health in the long run. Avoid the negative opinions of others about your hair and remember that it’s your thoughts and feelings that count.